Metro Buss-Islamabad and Rawalpindi-Conclusion

In my previous write-up I had tried to lay stress on Strategic Planning, Human Capital Development, and Industrial competiveness for a rapid mass transportation system. In this section I will try to educate the readers on other issues that need attention with such projects.

The logic given for this transport system using a single line is to ferry commuters who mainly live in Rawalpindi and work in Islamabad. I will try to analyse this logic and see if its really counted when planning and executing this project. Were all aspects and alternatives thoroughly researched and if they were does any proof of that exist.  

Commuter Traffic routes Rawalpindi-Islamabad

To start with there are two major arteries the Kashmir Highway and the Islamabad express way. Two major entry points from Rawalpindi to Islamabad are through the ‘Motorway Chowk’ linking daily commuters from Wah, Taxilla, Fatehjang, Tarnol etc to the capital city via Kashmir highway. Another entry point for people residing on the outskirts of Rawalpindi is through the Golra Road linking it to Kashmir Highway.  There are others as well but I am just talking about the routes that are frequented by commuters at least in my student days. The other major commuter concentrations are along the other major artery Islamabad expressway are the IJP road at Pir Wadahi Mor on GT road that ends at Faizabad. This is one of the most crowded commuter prone routes as most very low income families of Rawalpindi reside by the right side of this road. Also the main gathering point for intercity low income travellers from northern and central Punjab and the rest of Pakistan end at Pir Wadahi Bus stop very close by. The other route adjacent to it is the Murree Road axis Starting from Saddar and ending at Faizabad. This road is the commercial hub of Rawalpindi & by far the most crowded of the roads connecting Rawalpindi to Islamabad at Islamabad expressway. This is the link road on which RWP-ISL Metro is being built. The last major link is the Airport road that starts from GT road and ends at Coral Chowk at Islamabad expressway. In total we have about 5 major routes 2 links on Kashmir highway and three on Islamabad expressway. 

Possible traffic scenarios at the Rawalpindi Section:

If a single fast link for commuters is established at one of the busiest intersections like the Murree road neglecting other routes for travel most commuter traffic from Rawalpindi’s other links will ultimately converge at flashman’s hotel interchange i.e starting point, on Murree road each stop will be a starting point from many localities inside Rawalpindi most commuter traffic from other links close to Islamabad expressway at Faizabad, clogging most traffic movement there. Certainly these commuters won’t use their feet to reach their respective stops the private commuter transport will be used i.e Rickshaws, wagons, Taxis choking traffic further. Whatever happens with the commuters hanging on to the buses will be another issue. What will happen then will be build flyovers for normal traffic at each stop on this link.

Environmental & Health Risks:

As mentioned earlier most commuter traffic from other localities will be drawn on Murree road this will bring along immense pollution from the transport vehicles that includes NOX ,CO, SO2, VOCs. The environmental effects/ costs of these pollutants in long term must be calculated and in this scenario the most dangerous ( FMP) Finite Particulate Matter FPM (PM2.5) that includes metals, acids, carbon, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In the given instance FMP won’t remain ‘diluted in space’ rather it will concentrate it directly on the population living around this route. Furthermore on this route there are hospitals, schools and thickly concentrated residential accommodation. How will the people living around these routes especially the Faizabad axis cope with the sever health problems caused by FPM? Has there been any study to exactly calculate the risks and long term health and environmental costs. Do we have a mitigation plan for this project to offset the risks I have just outlined?

Islamabad’s Environmental perspective:

Islamabad’s traffic scenario won’t be much different from the points raised above. 9^th avenue and Jinnah avenue will be converted into another Murree road and most residential sectors around 9^th Avenue with the same health and environmental risks that the population living on and around Murree road will face. In addition to this entering Islamabad from Rawalpindi has a different feeling suddenly the atmosphere changes from dense clogged small roads to a feeling of openness, greenery, pride and a sense of ownership. A 40 year old blue pine tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of CO₂ in a year. Furthermore it produces about 0.6 up to 0.9 pounds of Oxygen a day. The pine trees that you see/ or used to see on the green belts of 9^th Avenue were about 40 years old an estimated 1000 trees chopped from the 9^th Avenue and Jinnah Avenue. Will mean losing a CO₂ sink of about 3 tons each year and roughly about 1 ton of fresh oxygen. Not to mention all the dust and other pollutants concentration in to Islamabad’s atmosphere.

Conclusion:

While this project might benefit few hundred people commuting between twin cities the vast majority of the commuter traffic to and fro will not have any meaningful benefit from this project as they will be left out or they will have to arrange some sort of alternate transport to reach the metro stops from their respective localities, paying additional fares for transportation. Business owners along the Murree road will lose most of their customer base and people of Islamabad will have to pay additional chunks of money to support the subsidy given to the commuters in ticket fares and additional costs of maintaining the infrastructure, transport vehicles and labour costs. As far as I can see there are no alternatives to generate additional revenues to even make a breakeven except from the ticket fares. I sincerely hope this project does not become another white elephant for the future governments with everyone trying to blame their predecessors on the state of affairs.